Kachutb



June 13, 19,33. :A. w. ALTOIRFER Re. 18,870

WASHING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Oii'gihal Filed July 2, 1925 Reisaued June 13,

uN Tsn STA PATE T 'rs s orrlcs- Orlllllll Io. 1,110,988, dated December, 1m, lcrlal I0. 41,150, fled July 2, 1m. Application for reissue fled October 5,

This invention has reference to improvef ments in washing machines, and particularly to that class of machines emplo 'a washing element or elements operative rom and- I 5 by a shaft passing up through the bottom of the tub and actuated from mechanism below the tub or container.

The principal object of the invention is the employment of a substantially'shallow 19 gear casin or housing arra ed for location clampin relation in association with the bot-' tom'of e tub; in the revision of a novel means for journaling'said shaft; in the provision of an adapter of annular, or tubular, or ring-like formation between. said casing or housing and the tub, centrally of the tub;

55 in the provision of clamping or securing means centrally of the tub for securing the housing and tub and also for securing the post or casing and tub as a unitary structureand with the annular portion of the post 39 or casin in bearing and clamping association wit the bottom of the tub, and in the provision of means for supporting or suspending the outer or extended portion of the casing or housing at a fpoint or points 35 at or near the outer rtion o the tub. Such an arrangement an assembly providing not only a unitary structure but one which is neat, inexpensive and compact and presenting a ofvstructure beneath the tub.

49 A further of the invention is the provision of clamp connectingmeans for clamping the or the gear casing or housing and bottom of e tub torovide a uni and rigid structural assemb y; and/ 45 also in t e rovision of a water shed on the shaft, ,whi' n i-throu'gh the bottom of the tub, below the tn for divert' casual water, if any, down saiid1 from tfing'intosai gear casing or Inits arrangement, an adapter is m1. mm no. arms.

A still further object'.of the invention is in the improved tub or container bottom and the drain therefor. I I V That the invention ma be more fully understood, reference is ha to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this-description, illustrating a referred embodiment of the invention, in w ich:

chine, part1 in section, embodying my invention, an shows cation of the gear v spect of the tub bottom, the manner and means of clamp' or securing the bottom of the tub betweed t h post or casing and' gear casing or housing and the arrangement of the drive and supporting connection for thewringer from. said gear casing or housing;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gear casing or housing and shows more in detail the construction of the clamping or securing means for securing the tub bottom, post or casing andgear casing or housing as a unitary structure.

. Fig. 3 is a plan view, as the same would appear if taken on the line'3-'-3, Fig. 2;

ig. 4 is a cross-section, in elevation, as the game would appear if taken on the line H Fig. 5 is a cross-section, in elevation, as the same would appear if taken on the line 5-5,Fig.3,and a Fi 6 is a detail in'section throughthe tub bottom showing. a bracing means and silancer againd: vibration and also the f Like characters .of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The frame of the machine includes a plurality of or legs 1 2 BZEISSUED Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a washing ma u arrangement and lo t; 1. I i or housing in ree bearing portion of the and a series of preferably approximately circular frames 3, 4 and 5 superimposed 5- and immediately beneath the tub and the container is dished or saucer sha shown, its lowermost point bein axially of m spaced relation, one above theother. The frames 3 and 5 are located at or near the bottom and top of the legs or-standards, respectively, as shown, and may be flat bands, whereas the frame 4 is an angularrband or apron located intermediate the frames 3 and referabl ereto.

rests thereon or has securehe bottom 7 of this tub or d, as

latter ment the tub. It is strengthened or raced centrally by the referably asbestos sheet or plate 8, next a Jacent the outside of the bottom and held inplace by the stiffening plate 9. Should there be any vibration of the tub bottom, due to the washing action. the asbestos' sheet or plate will act as a silencer to prevent rumbling or thumping. Both the sheet or late 8 and the plate 9 have an opening 10 therethrough next adjacent the center 0r axis of the tub through which pro]ects a coupling 11 secured to the tub bottom and in communication therewith to act as a drain 1 Such agitator or dolly is arranged for clutch connection to the upper end of a shaft ing u through the tub bottom 7 .an arrange for operative connection with actuatmg mechanism located beneath the tub. As shown, the agitator or dolly may have a detachable connection with the upper end of the shaft 15 by means of a suitable coupling 16 i The bearing for the shaft 15 within the tub,,comprises preferabl an upstandin tubular post or casing 17 posed througi an axial opening 18 in the tub bottom and through corresponding 0 nings in the plates secured thereto and th erebeneath; the greater portion of said post or casing extendmg up into the tub, to a point preferably above the water line therein andwith an extension projecting below the tub, as shown. Said post or casing, is-further provided with a flanged bearing and clamping member 19 at or near its lower end, between which and the u per inside face of the tub bottom a suitab e gasket or packing 20 is inserted, to form or provide a seal against leakage such flange and Motor packing being rawn firmly down and against the tub bottom, in a manner to be explained.

The gear casing: or housing, comprises preferably elongated and suitably shaped construction.

rather" shallow superimposed sections 20 and 21, adapted to be removably attached to each other by bolts and nuts 22.. When united and housing the operating gearing, such casin or housing is disposed below and closely ad acent the bottom of the tub and is.

arranged radially or diametrically thereof from a point centrally of the tub to-a point outside the peri hery thereof, as shown 'in or casing 25 having an opening 26 there through" and the head wall 27 thereof, when the gear casin or housing is secured in position, preferab y bears against the underside of theplate 9 secured to the underside of the tub bot-tom. Also, when the gear casing or housing is secured in assembled and operative position below the tub, as shown in Fig. 2, the dolly or agitator shaft 15 preferably passes down through the post or casin 17 and preferably through the upper wall of the section 21 and has bearing in the lower wall of the section 20. Furthermore, the lowermost end of the tubular post or casing 17-extends down, referabl terminating in the overlying she or casing 25, stopping short of the up shown. This s ell or casing 25 constitutes r wall of the section 21, as v a head ofmaterially less diameter than the tion of the post or casing 17, whereby the bottom of the tub is clamped or secured between and to the post or casing and adapter, to provide a unitary and rigid like assembl between these elements; and the casing with operating mechanism therewithin, is preferably in the lane of the drive from the power unit, suc as an electric motor. Furthermore, lacing the shallow ar casing well up an er the tub and clampm the easing and tub together, including t e shaft casing, eliminates the possibility of out of alignment of the dolly o rati shaft, will prevent binding and sta ling 0 motor and msure easy running and should obviate leakage and attention usuallyrequired.

On the extreme lower end of the shaft 15 is slidalgly connected a pinion 28 arranged to be mov into and out of meshing relation with a segment gear or rack 29 pivotally supported; within the gear casing or housing a d t0 and within the section 20 and has support 41 is shown in Fig.

a supplemental connected thereto a pitman bar in pivotal connection with a gear wheel 31, also journaled in said gear casing or housin and which is in mesh vwith a driving inion 32 on a short vertical shaft 33 journa ed in the section 20 of the ear easing or housing and Eousing 34 secured to and suspended below the section 20 of said gear casing or housing. On the lower'end of said short shaft 33 is secured a preferably crown gear wheel 35 with which meshes an ordinary s ur gear wheel 36 on a short transverse sl 'iaft 37 to which is secured a pulley wheel 38 adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power and a belt, not shown. The use of a crown gear wheel for the transmission of the power from the driving shaft to the operating shaft 15 will eliminate the fine adjustments ordinarily found necessary in machines of thischaracter and obviates the usual thrust-which is noisy and makes possible an easy, smooth and noiseless running machine. To actuate a wringer mechanism, not shown, there may be rovided the gear wheel 39 located within. the gear casing or housing and in meshing relation with the gear wheel 31 from which it receives its power and said gear wheel 39 adapted to operate a vertically disposed.shaft 40 from which power may be transmitted to the usual wringer mechanism, not shown, although its 1 The shaft 40 is pi'efera ly encased in the upstanding sleeve or casing 40', the lower end 0 which is supported from the ex osed end portion of the upper section 21 o the gear casin or housing, which projects out be 0nd the tu and its upper end connected wit the support 41. In this arrangement, a convenient su port and drive betweenthe gear casing or ousing and gearing therewithin and mm er is provided, eliminating the unusually fim connection heretofore made necessary an as a result doin away with much unnecessary material an thereby reducing the cost of manufacture."

The means employed to move the pinion 28 into and out of mesh with the segment gear or rack 29 is' a lever arm 42 projecting up at the side of the machine and connected with a rod 43, seeF-ig. 3, which has secured to itsv inner end the yoke 44 engaging a grooved collar 45 connected with the pinion 28, whereby upon the oscillation of the rod 43 the pinion may be alternately raised and lowered as shown in'dotted and full lines in Fig. 5, so as to disconnect and connect' said pinion with segment ar or rack 29. This arrangement, as will understood, permits the motor to operate continuously when themachine is in use and yet provides a simple and convenient means for the attendant to connect and disconnect the actuating mechanism of the dolly with the source of power.

When the several parts described are 'in assembled and in o rative relation, there is carried on the do y or a 'tator operative shaft 15 and within the she or casmg 25 a flanged collar 46, preferably below the end post or casing 17 and preferably within the adapter shell or casing 25. When so applied, the nut 47 will draw the bearing flange 19 of the post or casing 17 and the head portion 27 of the adapter toward each other, firmly clamping the bottom of the tub therebetween Between the nut ,47 and the and thereto.

secured in unitary arrangement, by

head wall 27 of the adapter 25 is interposed f manner shown, the tub 6 is dropped into position between the legs or standards so as to rest on the frame 4 in the manner shown and with the plate 9 secured to the'bottom ofthe tub in abutting relation with the head wall 27 of the shell or casin'g 25 superimposed on the section 21 of said gear casing or housing. Thetubular post or casing 17 is then laced in position with its extreme lower end inserted through the axial opening 18 in the tub and the lates connected beneath and thereto; The ower end of said tubular post or casing will stop short of the upper wall of the section 21 of the gear casing or housing and within the shell or casing 25, as shown, superimposed thereon. The operating shaft 15 ma ,be conveniently placed at the same time t at the tubular post or casing 17 is-positioned, with said operating shaft being inserted down and through the upper wall of the section 21 of the gear casing or housing and into operative relation with the pinion 28 arranged to have a slidable relation thereon.

However,'before, or at the same time that the tubular post or casing 17 and the operating shaft 15 are placed inposition, the nut 47 and the flanged collar 46 are inserted through the opening '26 into and within the shell or casing .25 to be in axial alignment with said shaft and said tubular post or casing so that the flanged collar 46 may have a snug fit on said shaft and embrace or surround the o ing in the upper wall of the-section 21 o the ar casing or housing in which said shaft as a bearing, as best seen in Fig. 2 and with 3 the nut 47 in position to be screwed on to the lower threaded end of the tubular post or tion with the tub at this point against leakage and the nut .47 when screwed into position firml clam s the tubular post or 'casing 17, the tn 6 an the gear casing or housing securel together. While the upper end of the tu ular post or casing 17 is normally above the water line of the tub, should any water work itself down from the top of the operating shaft 15 and through the tubular post or casing 17 it will'be diverted at the ower end of said tubular post or casi 17 over the flanged collar 46 on to the top the gear casing or housing and be prevented from entering such gear casin or housing aroundtending through the top portion of the houssaid operating shaft w ere it has a bearin in the upper wall of the section 21 of sai not likel to exist'but as a safeguard I have rovide this water shed in the form of the ged collar 46. 7 As will be apparent, power is transmitted from the shaft 37 through thepinion 36 and crown gear to the gear wheel 31 which will impart reciprocal movement to the pitman bar 30 and oscillate the rack or segment gear a 29 and alternately rotate the dolly shaft 15 in opposite direc'tions,-w'hen the pinion 28 is in mesh with said rack. The inion is arranged to be manually raised and owered out of and into engagement with said rack through and by means of the operators level 42.

What I claim is: 1. In a washing machine, in combination,

a frame including standards and connecting ,annular rings, a gear'casing supported bz and sus nded from one of said rings, a tu ada te to rest on said last mentioned ring, 7 a tu ular post extending through the bottom of said tub, and a nut adapted to engage the lower'end of said post to clamp the post and tub and easing together.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame including standards and connecting annular rin a .gear casing supported bf; and stiximn from one of said rin avtu adap to rest on said last mention ring, a tubular post extending through the bottom'of said-tub, a dolly shaft joumaled in said postand casing, a nut adapted. to en-" gage the lower end of said post to clamp the post and tub and easing together a a 8 flanged collar on said 811m below the lower gear casing or housing. This condition is.

eflddof said post adapted to act as a water s e 3. In a washing machine, a tub having a saucer shaped bottom, and a vibration silencer for said bottom to prevent 'rumblin comprising a vibration silencin materia lying next adjacent the bottom '0 said tub and a plate lying next adj aoent to and below said material.

4; In combination with a washing machine tub and supporting means therefor, the tub having an opening in its bottom at the axis thereof, a gearcasing havingsubstantially parallel top and bottom walls and relatively narrow side walls whereby to provide a ma ing of relativel shallow depth, ahead rojecting upward y from the upper face 0 the top wall of the casing a distance approximating the depth of the casing and forming therewith a housing member and having a top portion engaged with the under face of the bottom of the tub so as to space the top of the casin a distance below the bottom of the tub, sai terially less than the lengthrof the casing andproviding a firm seat against which'the bottom of the tub abuts, a tubular post exing member for receiving the dolly'shaft of the washing machine alined with the opening in the tub, means associated with the head to rigidly connect said tubular post to the head and to clamp the tub bottom between the post and thehead, and other means connected to the casing and to the tub and located at points remote from the head and extending across the space between the top of the easing and the bottom of the tub for holding the casing with its said head in firm and rigid e ment with the bottom of the tub.

5. n combination with a washing machine tub .and supporting means therefor, the tub an opening in its bottom at the axis thereof, a gear casing having substantially, parallel to and bottom walls and relatively narrow si e walls whereby to provide a cashead being of a diameter maing of relativelv' shallow depth, a head pro jectingupwardl from the upper face of the top wall a istanoe approximating the depth of the casing and forming therewith a housing memberand having a top rtion engaged with the under face of the ttoxn ofthetubsoastospace thetopofthecasin a distance below the bottom of the tub, sai

head being of a diameter materially less thanthelength of the casing and providing a firm seat against which the bottom of the tub abuts a tubular postfor receivin the dolly sha of the washing machine a ined with the opening in the tub and extending through thetop portion of the head, said tu ular post having an outwardly ro'ecting rtion w ich seats against the ttom o the tub and units means in said housing member for sim 'taneously securing said projec portion of the tubular post to the botto gf the tub and alsothe head to the bottom of the tub with the said bottom of the tub located between said projecting portion of the tubular post and the head.

In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto aifixed my hand, this 3rd digof October, 1931;

W. ALTORFER. 

